Abstract
The generation of electricity by wind energy has the potential to reduce environmental impacts caused by the use of fossil fuels. Although the use of wind energy to generate electricity is increasing rapidly in the United States, government guidance to help communities and developers evaluate and plan proposed wind-energy projects is lacking. Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects offers an analysis of the environmental benefits and drawbacks of wind energy, along with an evaluation guide to aid decision-making about projects. It includes a case study of the mid-Atlantic highlands, a mountainous area that spans parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. This book will inform policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Generating Electricity from Wind Energy
- The Present Study
- Developing an Analytical Framework
- Temporal and Spatial Scales of Analysis
- Understanding and Assessing Cumulative Environmental Effects
- Organization of the Report
- Context for Analysis of Effects of Wind-Powered Electricity Generation in the United States and the Mid-Atlantic Highlands
- Estimating the Environmental Benefits of Generating Electricity from Wind Energy
- Wind Energy Globally
- Quantifying Wind-Energy Benefits in the United States and the Mid-Atlantic Highlands
- Ecological Effects of Wind-Energy Development
- Bird Deaths in Context
- Turbines Cause Fatalities to Birds and Bats
- Wind-Energy Projects Alter Ecosystem Structure
- Projected Cumulative Impacts of Bird and Bat Fatalities: A Working Hypothesis
- Impacts of Wind-Energy Development on Humans
- Aesthetic Impacts
- Cultural Impacts
- Impacts on Human Health and Well-Being
- Local Economic and Fiscal Impacts
- Electromagnetic Interference
- Planning For and Regulating Wind-Energy Development
- Guidelines for Wind-Energy Planning and Regulation
- Regulation of Wind-Energy Development
- Framework for Reviewing Wind-Energy Proposals
The document attached to the file is the prepublication draft available on the internet. Go to the site link to get the official draft available for download.